BRUISED BUT NOT BROKEN: HOW COPING STYLES, SPIRITUALITY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO HOW WELL PEOPLE DO AFTER DIVORCE

<p>The main purpose of this study was to examine how coping styles, spirituality, and social support contributed to divorced persons’ adjustment to life after divorce. The study used a qualitative research design with face‑to‑face interviews. A snowball sample was used in order to inquire divorced participants’ experiences after divorce. Twelve participants were interviewed to obtain their individual experiences and discernment of divorce transition.</p> <p>The study found that spirituality (e.g., attending church, Bible reading, prayers) was a major copying strategy used by most of the participants after divorce. The study also revealed that the support of family and friends was utilized as another critical coping strategy to help aid divorcees in their transition to post divorce life. In addition, the findings of the study suggested that divorced participants, particularly females, were quite resilient in overcoming financial hardship, single parenting, loneliness, and abandonment.</p> <p>This study’s results suggest that social workers need to be more knowledgeable about and equipped to provide adequate support and therapy to divorced persons’ post‑divorcé adjustment challenges. Another practice recommendation is that social workers should play a critical role in developing and facilitating a support group to help divorcees that are transitioning post‑divorce. In addition, special attention should be paid to provide additional help and support services for men who suffer mental and emotional effects of divorce transition.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Social Work

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

School of Social Work

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Tasha L, Ms

Contributors dc:contributor

• Janet Chang

• Divorce Adjustment
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/84

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu:etd-1105